Drinking glass, tumbler or the like washing machine



Dec. 4, 1956 H. F. LYMAN DRINKING GLASS, TUMBLER OR THE LIKE WASHING MACHINE Filed June 29, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l V I L i q] HNVENTOR HOMER F. LYMAN ATTQRNEY ec. 4, 1956 F LYMAN 2,772,429

DRINKING GLASS, TUMBLER OR THE LIKE WASHING MACHINE Filed June 29, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i 54 I i /55' l L I 4 7 I 58 $0 Y L \(k FIT 9.4 BWWQWO T INVENTOR HOMER E LYAN United States Patent DRINKING GLASS, TUMBLER OR THE LIKE WASltHNG MACHINE Homer Frank Lyman, Nutiey, N. J.

Application June 29, 1953, Serial No. 364,800

8 Claims. (Cl. 76)

This invention relates to drinking-glass washing machines and more particularly to drinking-glass washing machines in which the inner surface and outer surface the glass is maintained stationary.

In drinking-glass washing machines to which the present invention relates, inner and outer glass cleaning brushes rotate in the same direction at a high speed causing the wash-water within the wash chamber of the machine to also rotate. A whirlpool or vortex around the brushes is formed by said rotation of the wash-water. Because of such whirlpool or vortex, washwater is not present uniformly around the surfaces of drinking-glasses being washed and said glasses are not, therefore, thoroughly cleaned.

The present invention provides a drinking-glass washing machine having an upright glass Washing compartment within the washing chamber of said machine, which compartment extends upwardly within the washing chamber to a point below the normal water level in the washing chamber. The glass washing compartment has a centrally disposed upright brush therein, said brush having the bristles thereof extending outwardly into the compartment and also has'an outer brush along the peripheral wall of the compartment, which outer brush has the bristles thereof extending inwardly and into engagement with the bristles of the inner brush. The compartment, including the brushes is rotated at a relatively high speed. Disposed above the glass washing compartment and below the normal water level in the washing chamber is a bafile assembly having a circular opening therethrough, which opening is in vertical alignment with the brushes within the glass washing compartment. The opening in the baffle assembly is of such size that a drinking-glass may be inserted therethrough in inverted position to extend downwardly into the glass washing compartment with the inner surface of said glass in engagement with the bristles of the inner brush and the outer surface of the drinking glass in engagement with the bristles of the outer brush. The opening in the baffle assembly is suitably lined with a material which frictionally engages the outer surface of the drinking-glass and maintains the same against rotation while the inner and outer surfaces of the glass are being washed by rotation of the brushes. The baffle assembly is so constructed and arranged as to prevent a whirlpool or vortex in the wash-water within the washing chamber of the glass washing machine.

The invention will be understood from th following description when considered in connection with the aci Fig. 4 is a plan view of the baffle assembly of the present invention with a part thereof broken away;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the baflie assembly shown in Fig. 4 and taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a transvers sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig 4.

Like characters of reference refer to like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, particularly Figs. 1 to 3 thereof, the drinking-glass washing machine of the present invention comprises a casing 10 which is substantially rectangular-shaped and has opposite walls 11 and 12, other opposit walls 13 and 14 and a bottom 15 which walls are joined together in a fluid-tight manner while the walls and the bottom are also joined together in fluid-tight relationship. Walls 11, 12, 13 and 14 and bottom 15 form a liquid-tight washing chamber 16. The walls have a flange 17 at the top thereof while the casing 10 is supported at the bottom thereof on legs 18 at the four corners of said casing.

Within the washing chamber 16, is drinking-glass washing apparatus comprising a cylindrically-shaped glass washing compartment 1), which compartment extends upright within washing chamber 16 in the central portion thereof from a point closely adjacent bottom 15 of the washing chamber to a point short of normal water level WL near the top of the chamber. Cylindrically-shaped compartment 19 comprises a peripheral wall 20 secured to a bottom 21, said compartment 19 being open at the top thereof. A mounting member 22 is secured against movement in bottom 21 centrally thereof and projects through said bottom downwardly therefrom and also upwardly into compartment 19. The portion of mounting member thereof projecting downwardly from said bottom rests upon bearing plate 23 so as to rotate in relationship to said plate, as will hereinafter be fully described. Bearing plate 23 is secured to bottom 15 of casing 10 by bolts 24, which bolts extend through bottom 15 so as also to secure bearing member 25 to bottom 15 which bearing member projects downwardly from the outer side of bottom 15. Mounting member 22, bearing plate 23 and bearing member 25 have a vertically extending bore therethrough through which bor upright shaft 26 extends from a point below bearing member 25 into drinking-glass washing compartment 19. A packing gland 27 around shaft 26 and at the lower end of bearing member 25 is provided to prevent leakage of wash-water from washing chamber 16.

Mounting member 22 is secured by set-screw 28' to shaft 26 so as to rotate therewith and, since mounting member 22 is secured to bottom 21 of compartment 19, the entire glass washing compartment will rotate with shaft 26, which shaft rotates in and in relationship to hearing member 25 and bearing plate 23. Inner upright brush 28 is also secured to shaft 26 so as to rotate therewith. This brush extends upwardly within glass washing compartment 19 from a point adjacent the inner projecting portion of member 22 to a point adjacent the top of said compartment. The upright brush 28 is of such diameter that the bristles thereof will bear against the inner surface of a glass inserted in compartment 19, as will hereinafter be fully de scribed. Outer brushes 29 are secured to the peripheral wall 20 of compartment 19 so that the bristles thereof project radially inwardly into said compartment and into engagement with the bristles of inner crush 28.

Shaft 26, at the lowermost end thereof, has a driven sheave 30 mounted thereon and secured thereto which driven sheave is rotated by a drive belt 31 extending around sheave 30 and also around a drive sheave 32 mounted on and secured to the drive shaft of motor M. As shown, motor M is enclosed within a metal enclosure 53 and the operation thereof is controlled by a control switch 33 (Fig. 1).

So that a whirlpool or vortex in the wash-Water within washing chamber 16 will be prevented and the glasses to be washed in glass washing compartment 19 will be thoroughly cleaned, a baffle assembly is provided above the upper extremity of glass washing compartment 19 and below the normal water level WL within said washing chamber 16. As shown more specifically in Figs. 4 t 6 of the drawings, the baffle assembly comprises vertically spaced horizontally extending, parallel plates 34 and 35 mounted in chamber 16. Each of the plates has a central, circular opening 36 which opening is in vertical alignment with the brushes 28 and 2& in glass washing compartment 1Q. Rubber rings 37 extend around the openings 36, the openings being of such diameter that a drinking glass may be inserted therethrough in inverted position and normally not engage the rings 37. The rings 37 are in vertically spaced relationship with one another so that water may flow therebetween, as will hereinafter be described. Plate 34 has a downwardly extending substantially U-shaped peripheral flange 38 thereon which flange extends around the four sides of the baffie plate. Plate has a downwardly projecting peripheral flange 39 extending along the four sides of said baffle plate. Bolts ME in the four corners of the baffle plate assembly secure plates 34 and 35 together, the U-shaped flange 38 on upper plate 35 holding the plates in spaced relationship to one another. Within the space between plates 34 and 35, is a plurality of baffles 41 which extend radially outwardly of opening 36 between points respectively closely adjacent the periphery of ring 37 and closely adjacent flange 38 at the corner of the plates. Each of said baffles 41 are substantially L-shaped having an upwardly extending lip 42, which engages at its uppermost edge the under surface of upper plate 34, and a leg 43 which is secured to the upper surface of lower plate 35. As illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the bafiies 41 are arranged in pairs in three corners of the baffie assembly while a single baffle 41 is disposed in the fourth corner thereof. The baflles 41 of each pair are in spaced parallel relationship to one another and lower plate 35 has a water opening 45 in the space between said pairs. Other water openings 45 in plate 35 are positioned in the space in said plate intermediate adjacent corner battles. The battle assembly comprising plates 34 and 35 and bafiles 41 is mounted in the wash chamber 16 below normal water level WL therein and above the uppermost extremity of glass washing compartment by bolts 46 (Fig. 3).

A waste-disposal compartment 47 (Figs. 2 and 3) into which waste from glasses to be washed may be deposited is provided in one corner of washing chamber 16 above the normal water level WL. Waste-disposal compartment has an outlet drain 48 therein, which drain would normally be screened, emptying into an overflow pipe 54 (Fig. 3) for chamber 19 which pipe discharges outside the chamber. The upper extremity of overflow pipe 54 is slightly above the normal water level WL, said pipe receiving overflow from chamber 19 when said water level is exceeded. Downflow pipe 54 extends downwardly through cut off space in plates 34 and 35 and outwardly of chamber 16 through wall 13 of casing ll). Wash-water for washing chamber 16 is provided through spigot 49 which receives cold water through cold water tap 50 and hot water through hot water tap 51. Chamber 16 has a water outlet 52 through which water may be drained therefrom.

in operation, switch 33 is turned on which sets motor M in operation thereby rotating the motor shaft and drive sheave 32 which rotates shaft 26 through driven sheave 30 and drive belt 31. Rotation of compartment 1? and brushes 23 and 29, all in the same direction, by rotation of shaft 26 causes the wash-water within washing chamber 16, which wash-water has been introduced into the chamber through spigot 49 to the normal water level WL within the chamber, to rotate in the same direction that the brushes and compartment are rotated. The body of rotating water which extends through openings 45 into the space between plates 34 and 35 comes into contact with the upwardly extending lips 42 of the baflles 41 and is directed by said baflies toward the center of chamber 16 to pass through the space between rings 3'7 into the central portion of the chamber. The water thusly directed into the central portion of chamber 16 circulates upwardly and downwardly through openings 36 in plates 34 and 35 and thereby prevents the formation of a depression or vortex in wash-water in chamber 16. in this manner, a circulation of water within chamber 16 is created which circulation prevents a whirlpool or vortex within the washing chamber.

A central depression or vortex around brushes 28 and 29, in accordance with the present invention, in which depression there would be no water for a washing action of the inner and outer surfaces of the glasses cannot form. Wash-water, therefore, is present where the washing action of the drinking-glass takes place.

When a drinking-glass is to be washed, it is inserted in an inverted position through opening 36 and moved downwardly with the outer surface of the drinking-glass.

engaging the bristles of brush 29 while the inner surface of the glass engages the bristles on brush 28. During the washing operation, the operator of the machine grasps the uppermost portion of the inverted drinkingglass and maintains the glass against rotative movement while the bristles of the inner brush rotate against the inner surface of the glass and the bristles of the outer brushes rotate against the outer surface of the glass. Since there is no depression in the central portion of washing chamber 16 because of the action, above described, of the bathe assembly, wash-water is always present within all portions of glass washing compartment 19.

While the invention has been described herein as used for the washing of drinking-glasses, it will readily be understood that the invention may be used for washing any container or utensil similar to a drinking glass or tumbler. The term drinking-glass, therefore, as used in the specification and claims shall mean any container or utensil similar to a drinking-glass or tumbler whether or not the same is made of glass and used for drinking.

Inasmuch as various modifications may be made in the form of the invention herein disclosed without departing from the principles thereof, it will be understood that the invention is not to be limited except by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. in a container washing machine for washing a container having an inner surface and an outer surface, said machine comprising a casing having a washing chamber therein adapted to contain wash-water, container washing apparatus in said chamber comprising upright inner surface cleaning means and upright outer surface cleaning means, each of said surface cleaning means being mounted for rotation in the same direction on a vertical axis, the inner and outer surface cleaning means being so shaped and so mounted in relationship to one another that the inner surface cleaning means engages the inner surface of a container positioned thereover in inverted position and the outer surface cleaning means engages the outer surface of said container, means for rotating said inner and outer surface cleaning means in the same direction, and baffle means positioned in said chamber and extending below the uppermost water level in the chamber, said baffle means comprising horizontally extending, vertically spaced plates positioned adjacent the upper end of said surface cleaning means, said plates being substantially coextensive with said washing chamber and having an opening therein in vertical alignment with said cleaning means through which a container is inserted in inverted position for washing, and baffles extending between said plates in said space therebetween and positioned to direct wash-water toward said surface cleaning means, the lower plate having a plurality of spaced water openings therein.

2. In a container washing machine for washing a container having an inner surface and an outer surface, said machine comprising a casing having a washing chamber therein adapted to contain wash-Water, container washing apparatus in said chamber comprising upright inner surface cleaning means and upright outer surface cleaning means, each of said surface cleaning means being mounted for rotation in the same direction on a vertical axis, the inner and outer surface cleaning means being so shaped and so mounted in relationship to one another that the inner surface cleaning means engages the inner surface of a container positioned thereover in inverted position and the outer surface cleaning means engages the outer surface of said container, means for rotating said inner and outer surface cleaning means in the same direction, and bafile means positioned in said chamber and extending below the uppermost water level in the chamber, said baffle means comprising horizontally extending, vertically spaced plates positioned adjacent the upper end of said surface cleaning means, said plates being substantially coextensive with said washing chamber and having annular openings therein in vertical alignment with said cleaning means through which a container is inserted in inverted position for washing, and baffles extending between said plates in the space therebetween, said bafiies extending diagonally of said plates between points adjacent the periphery of the plates and the periphery of said annular openings respectively, the lower plate having a plurality of spaced water openings therein.

3. In a glass washing machine comprising a casing having a washing chamber therein adapted to contain wash-water to a predetermined level, glass washing apparatus in said chamber disposed substantially centrally thereof below said predetermined level and comprising upright inner glass surface cleaning means and upright outer glass surface cleaning means, each of said glass surface cleaning means being mounted for rotation in the same direction on a vertical axis, the inner and outer glass surface claining means being so shaped and so mounted in relationship to one another that the inner surface cleaning means engages the inner surface of a glass positioned thereover in inverted position and the outer surface cleaning means engages the outer surface of said glass, means for rotating the inner and outer glass surface cleaning means in the same direction, and bafile means positioned in the washing chamber below said predetermined water level in the chamber, the baffle means comprising horizontally extending, vertically spaced plates positioned adjacent the upper end of the glass surface cleaning means, the plates being substantially coextensive with the washing chamber and having an opening therein in vertical alignment with said glass cleaning means through which a glass is inserted in inverted position for washing, and baifies extending between the plates in said space therebetween and positioned to direct wash-water toward the glass surface cleaning means, the lower plate having a plurality of spaced water openings therein.

4. In a glass washing machine comprising a casing having a washing chamber therein adapted to contain wash-water to a predetermined level, glass washing apparatus in said chamber disposed substantially centrally thereof below said predetermined level and comprising upright inner glass surface cleaning means and upright outer glass surface cleaning means, each of said glass surface cleaning means being mounted for rotation in the same direction on a vertical axis, the inner and outer glass surface cleaning means being so shaped and so mounted in relationship to one another that the inner surface cleaning means engages the inner surface of a glass positioned thereover in inverted position and the outer surface cleaning means engages the outer surface of said glass, means for rotating the inner and outer glass surface cleaning means in the same direction, and baffle means positioned in said chamber, the baffle means comprising horizontally extending, vertically spaced plates positioned intermediate the upper end of the glass surface cleaning means and said predetermined water level, the plates being substantially coextensive with said washing chamber and having annular openings therein in vertical alignment with the glass cleaning means through which a glass is inserted in inverted position for washing, and bafiles extendingbetween the plates in said space therebetween, the baflies extending diagonally of said plates between points adjacent the periphery of the plates and the periphery of said annular openings respectively, the lower plate having a plurality of spaced water openings therein.

5. In a glass Washing machine comprising a casing having a washing chamber therein adapted to contain wash-water, glass washing apparatus in said chamber disposed substantially centrally thereof and comprising an upright cylindrically-shaped glass washing compartment having a vertically extending inner brush disposed substantially centrally thereof and outer brush means on the inner periphery of said compartment, the compartment and each of said brushes being mounted for rotation in the same direction on a vertical axis, the inner and outer brushes being so shaped and. so mounted in relationship to one another that the inner brush engages the inner surface of a glass positioned thereover in inverted position and the outer brush engages the outer surface of said glass, means for rotating said compartment and the inner and outer brushes in the same direction, and bafile means disposed in said chamber and below the uppermost water level in the chamber, said bafile means comprising horizontally extending, vertically spaced plates positioned adjacent the upper end of said glass washing compartment, said plates being substantially coextensive with said washing chamber and having an opening therein in vertical alignment with said glass washing compartment through which a glass is inserted in inverted position for washing, and baffles extending between the plates in said space therebetween and positioned to direct wash-water toward said brushes, the lower plate having a plurality of spaced water openings therein.

6. In a glass washing machine comprising a casing having a washing chamber therein adapted to contain wash-water to a predetermined level, glass washing apparatus in said chamber disposed substantially centrally thereof below said predetermined level and comprising an upright cylindrically-shaped glass washing compartment having a vertically extending inner brush disposed substantially centrally thereof and outer brush means on the inner periphery of said compartment, the compartment and each of said brushes being mounted for rotation in the same direction on a vertical axis, the inner and outer brushes being so shaped and so mounted in relationship to one another that the inner brush engages the inner surface of a glass positioned thereover in inverted position and the outer brush engages the outer surface of said glass, means for rotating said compartment and the inner and outer brushes in the same direction, and baiile means disposed in said] chamber, said baffle means comprising horizontally extending, vertically spaced plates mounted intermediate the upper end of said glass washing compartment and said predetermined water level, the plates being substantially coextensive with said washing chamber and having annular openings therein in vertical alignment with said glass washing compartment and through which openings a glass is inserted in inverted position for Washing, the lower plate having a plurality of spaced water openings therein, and spaced elon ated baiile members extending between the plates in said space therebetween and so located in respect to the spaced water openings in the lower plate that water passing therethrough impinges on said baffle members, the baflie members extending diagonally of said plates between points adjacent the periphery of the plates and the periphery of said annular opening espectively so as to direct the water impinging on the baflie members toward the annular openings.

7. In a container Washing machine comprising a casing having a washing chamber therein adapted to contain wash-water, container washing apparatus in said chamber comprising upright inner container surface cleaning means and upright outer container surface cleaning means, each of said container surface cleaning means being mounted for rotation in the same direction on a vertical axis, the inner and outer container surface cleaning means being so shaped and so mounted in relationship to one another that the inner surface cleaning means engages the inner surface of a container positioned thereover in inverted position and the outer container surface cleaning means engages the outer surface of said container, means for rotating said inner and outer surface cleaning means in the same direction, and bafiie means disposed in said chamber and extending below the uppermost Water level in the chamber, said baflle means comprising a plate having a plurality of spaced water openings therein, said plate being positioned adjacent the upper end of said container surface cleaning means and extending transversely of and coextensive with said washing chamber and having an opening therein in vertical alignment with said container surface cleaning means through which a container is inserted in inverted position for Washing, and baifie members extending upwardly from said plate and so located in respect to the spaced water openings that water passing through said openings impinges on the bafile members, the bafile members being so constructed and arranged as to obstruct rotative flow of said water 8; In a glass Washing machine comprising a casing having a washing chamber therein adapted to contain wash-water, glass washing apparatus in said chamber disposed substantially centrally thereof and comprising an upright cylindrically-shaped glass washing compartment having a vertically extending inner brush disposed substantially centrally thereof and outer brush means-on the inner periphery of said compartment, the compartment and each of said brushes being mounted for rota tion in the same direction on a vertical axis, the inner and outer brushes being so shaped and so mounted in with said washing chamber and having an opening therein in vertical ali nment with said glass washing compartment through which a glass in inserted in inverted position for washing, and battle members extending upwardly from said plate and so located thereon in respect to the spaced water openings that water passing through said openings impinges on the baffle members, the bafile members being so constructed and arranged as to obstruct rotative flow of saidwater. 1

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,148,486 Markwood Feb. 28, 1939 2,153,238 Cunningham Apr. 4, 1939 2,255,080 Nielsen Sept. 9, 1941 

